Lloyd90 Posted September 7, 2009 Report Share Posted September 7, 2009 Getting a bit worried about Skye, a few days ago I noticed she was limping and keeping her weight off her front left paw I was worried but left it until morning. The next day she was fine so I thought she might have just strained it, but then in the night after it being fine all day she was limping again Its a bit on and off to be honest. I take her for walks and she seems 100% running round like a lunatic 95% of the time and she's fine. Then she might have a little limp or I might think to mnyself "Is she limping ?" Next thing she's running mad again and playing, she always seems happy, wagging her tail. She will let me touch her leg and paw all over and doesn't pull away from me for anything. Got me a bit stumped. Don't want to take her to the vet for nothing. Cant really afford that but I do want to make sure she's safe and healthy Any ideas guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd90 Posted September 7, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2009 Just moments ago she spent a good 5 mins sprinting through the house doing laps making me laugh. Its when she does that I doubt that she's hurt as she seems 110% Also just had a thorough feel of her paw and leg, no pain, no pulling away, she seems fine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzy Fudd Posted September 7, 2009 Report Share Posted September 7, 2009 what breed of dog is she? something similar happened me with arnie (the rottie) when he was a pup. the leg was fine but if he walked too far he would limp on it, but i could touch it and would never be sore. the vet reckoned that (cant remember the name of the condition) it was basically his leg muscles not growing at the same speed as the rest of him, sometimes happens in dogs (but usually the larger/faster growing breeds). they had 3 options - it would either go away when he got older and the muscles growth caught up (as it did when he was about 2), or they could treat it with a course of injections (if necessary), or in an extreme case they would operate. having said that there could be dozens of explanations, but hope it helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd90 Posted September 7, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2009 Thanks babby its a lab so another fast growing breed. Hopefully that's what it is then. Shes perfectly content and it only comes about after a good walk. Maybe Im over exercising her ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzy Fudd Posted September 7, 2009 Report Share Posted September 7, 2009 if it is the same thing the vet told me excercise him as much as i want, but stop when he starts limping, used to really worry me at times, hed be fine for days/weeks then suddenly he'd start limping again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WGD Posted September 7, 2009 Report Share Posted September 7, 2009 Maybe Im over exercising her ? How much exercise are you giving her? Rule of thumb is about 5 mins for every month of age, less if off lead exercise. Don't overdo it, especially with a lab where hip and elbow dysplacia are prominent in the breed. Sorry can't be of any help with the actual condition, hope she's ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd90 Posted September 7, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2009 about 30 mins a time, maybe once or twice a day she loves it but I do worry that its too much Although she never seems too tired and loves it I think I might cut down a bit on the walking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tobyb525 Posted September 7, 2009 Report Share Posted September 7, 2009 Don't leave it long even if the vets tell you just to rest her, mine had a limp at under 1 year and after months of explinations we got her x-rayed and she had elbow displasia. Shes ok 99.9% of the time now but she had to have an op Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apache Posted September 7, 2009 Report Share Posted September 7, 2009 Elbow dysplasia common in Labs and can give a mild intermittent lameness that doesn't seem especially painful. How old is she? Is she insured? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teal27 Posted September 8, 2009 Report Share Posted September 8, 2009 just out of curiosity have you checked deep in and between the paw for grass seeds, they can burrow deep and if not found become infected. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd90 Posted September 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 8, 2009 Shes 4 months, not insured atm and yes checked the paw thoroughly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darren m Posted September 8, 2009 Report Share Posted September 8, 2009 mate - in one of those links re-ticks below post , it mentions on off limping as a symptom of a bite . weird i know but wirth having a read Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gully Posted September 8, 2009 Report Share Posted September 8, 2009 My GWP had this around 6-9 months of age. I had xrays, scans, the works but there was no reason for it. we put it down to growing pains and too much exercise. Didn't walk him for 2 weeks then added time back gradually. He's just turned a year and is fine. Firstly I'd rest your dog and then see how it goes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted September 8, 2009 Report Share Posted September 8, 2009 as said with labs in particular you have to be very careful to limit exercise and jumping if you want their hips to last. Sounds like she's overdoing things a bit so back off the exercise and personally I'd insure her before you go to a vet just in case as the above poster has shown if the vet wants to find what it is it can be expensive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WGD Posted September 8, 2009 Report Share Posted September 8, 2009 (edited) I'd insure her before you go to a vet Yup, if you go to the vet first anything arising from the limp (hoepfully nothing) will be deemed pre-existing and not covered. Edited September 8, 2009 by wgd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted September 8, 2009 Report Share Posted September 8, 2009 How much exercise are you giving her? Rule of thumb is about 5 mins for every month of age, less if off lead exercise. Don't overdo it, especially with a lab where hip and elbow dysplacia are prominent in the breed. Sorry can't be of any help with the actual condition, hope she's ok. Top advice. A lot of dogs under 12 months old get too much excercise (innocently) , which will give them problems in later life. Its no coincidence that most hunting hounds are not permitted to work (even lightly) until they are at least 18 months old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darren m Posted September 8, 2009 Report Share Posted September 8, 2009 for godsakes get insured , my lab was put to sleep in june and only 6 years old , he had been lame since september on his front leg , we had several vets and a specialist look at him , but they could not be 100% of the cause we spent a lot of money and gave it our best shot , the only thing left was an MRI which there was no way we could afford , eventually after 8 months of painkillers and visits to the vet we had to let him go , one of the saddest days of my life if only i had been insured who knows Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raja Clavata Posted September 8, 2009 Report Share Posted September 8, 2009 My GSP had similar symptoms at the 6 month old mark, kept an eye on it and there hasn't been any sign of it recently. His was most noticeable as he got up but it was quite pronounced on one occasion as other people spotted it at the weekly obedience class (still quite subtle though as nobody seemed to agree exactly what leg it was). I put it down to him tearing about in the garden and the odd occasion where he came flying through the back door in a bit of an "uncontrolled manner". At nearly 9 months and 32kgs I hope it was more to do with growing pains than any other underlying factor. Calmed down a bit recently which might also have helped a little. As with all things like this, we invariably know our own dogs best, get it looked at if it persists for a reasonable amount of time or causes you further concern Wholeheartedly agree on insurance, can't see how anyone can not afford / justify it for any animal that is first and foremost a pet (member of the family). On a more upbeat note my 6 y/o lad proclaimed yesterday that he thought of our GSP as a bit like a brother - not sure which of the two of them that reflects on the worst Here they are together a few months back: Raja Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted September 8, 2009 Report Share Posted September 8, 2009 thats one of those pics that shows pointers at their best, we took mine to Burghley for the eventing on saturday and she had a few kids crawling over her and was loving the attention Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stokie Posted September 8, 2009 Report Share Posted September 8, 2009 Had exactly same with my lab . Drop a Devils Claw tablet in its food twice a day and all will be well in a few weeks I have been giving Tess them for about 2 years . It is a natural anti inflamitory that has no side effects . I was recommended this by a gundog owning friend and asked my vet about it and she said it was a fantastic drug but we had to inform them if she needed any other medication . If it so good why dont vets use it . Its available from Holand and Barret £5 a bottle which lasts for months Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apache Posted September 8, 2009 Report Share Posted September 8, 2009 There is advice of very mixed value in this thread. IF your lab (predisposed breed) has elbow dysplasia the longer it is left without treatment the more irreversible damage occurs in the elbow joint. Google 'elbow dysplasia' or 'fragmented coronoid process' and 'ununited anconeal process' Rest and supplements may help IF it is something else. The advice re not too much exercise before fully grown is sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted September 9, 2009 Report Share Posted September 9, 2009 Had exactly same with my lab .Drop a Devils Claw tablet in its food twice a day and all will be well in a few weeks I have been giving Tess them for about 2 years . It is a natural anti inflamitory that has no side effects . I was recommended this by a gundog owning friend and asked my vet about it and she said it was a fantastic drug but we had to inform them if she needed any other medication . If it so good why dont vets use it . Its available from Holand and Barret £5 a bottle which lasts for months why would you want to give an alleged anti inflamatory long term? if its masking something thats an issue I'd be a tad concerned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darren_mc Posted September 9, 2009 Report Share Posted September 9, 2009 hows skye doing, just had my lab pup (she is 7 months) to the vets. she is like your's limping on off, vet said it was growing pains and to take it easy with her just short walks on lead and rest. this is her pic darren Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stokie Posted September 9, 2009 Report Share Posted September 9, 2009 why would you want to give an alleged anti inflamatory long term? if its masking something thats an issue I'd be a tad concerned. Because on the advice of a vet it can do no harm . The evidence speaks for its self . She doesnt limp anymore. She would limp if she over did it while running or playing. She had a joint tap sample taken which highlighted early signs of arthritus and that was at the age of 2 . She is now 6. So thats why Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darren m Posted September 11, 2009 Report Share Posted September 11, 2009 if Devils claw does works , then i would defo use it over the prescribed drugs for long term arthrities . sometimes all that is needed to aid healing is help from an anti-inflam so the body can start to use its own natural defencies to start the healing process interested to know - as anyone else tried this supplement and got a result Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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